Commems Collection Classic: Quick Bits 126 - A William Mckinley Connection

Another obvious connection within the classic-era series of US commemorative coins occurred among the gold issues - the 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (LPE) Gold Dollars and the 1916-17 William McKinley Birthplace Memorial Gold Dollars.

The connection? William McKinley!

McKinley was the 25th US president, serving from March 4, 1897 through September 14, 1901; he was assassinated early in his second term while attending the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, NY. He was born in Niles, Ohio on January 29, 1843.

As designs for the LPE gold dollar were being considered (circa 1902-03), there arose a desire to honor William McKinley and have one of the LPE Gold Dollars serve as a memorial to the assassinated President. McKinley had a legitimate connection to the Exposition as he had signed the Act that created the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission and set the stage for the US Government's participation in the centennial Exposition.

The LPE-McKinley Gold Dollar features a left-facing portrait of the fallen President on its obverse and commemorative inscriptions on its reverse.

1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollar - William McKinley Type


Note: The other type of 1903 Louisiana Purchase Exposition Gold Dollar featured a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the US President who was instrumental in the US' purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803.

Approximately a decade and half later, the US Congress authorized a William McKinley Gold Dollar to support the creation of the William McKinley Birthplace Memorial in Niles, Ohio.

The McKinley Birthplace Memorial Gold Dollar presents a left-facing portrait of McKinley on its obverse and a head-on view of the Birthplace Memorial on the reverse.

William McKinley Birthplace Memorial Gold Dollar


Side Note: It might just be my eyes, but if you told me the two coins featured portraits of different men, I wouldn't challenge you too strenuously.


For more of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, including others about both of the McKinley gold dollars, see: Commems Collection.